Building a Bridge Between Academic and Non-Academic Units Through Assessment

ANNE COOPER MOORE, PH.D.DEAN, L IBRARY AFFAIRS

JAMES S . ALLEN, PH.D.ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

SHARON WALTERS, PH.D.ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ASSESSMENT & PROGRAM REVIEW

Co-Curricular Defined Pertaining to activities that contribute to the academic learning experience, but take place outside the classroom.

Especially activities that provide students with opportunities to learn and develop skills through active participation.

Co-curricular activities and programs may be led by faculty or staff, or by students themselves, but they must have stated goals and measured outcomes.

(Defining “Co-Curricular,” Purdue’s Student Success and Co-Curricular Assessment Team)

“Co-Curricular”Not used consistently or not mentioned at all, but…

80% of a student’s time at college is spent on non-academic activities. (Wilhite, M., & Banset, L.,1999)

Experiences that take place in student organizations, residence halls, and other similar social settings are just as important to the education of students as the learning that takes place within the classroom.” (ACPA, 1996)

“Co-Curricular” College should be “a seamless experience in which class time and out-of-class time complement one another perfectly and inevitably.”

“Co-Curricular activities allow [students] to apply the knowledge and skills they learn inside the classroom.” (Gutowski, J., 2006)

“Co-Curricular” “Successful co-curricular programs encourage the development of friendships, a sense of belonging, enhanced intellectual awareness, improved academic performance, an appreciation of different perspectives, and close interaction with faculty and staff members who really care about students.” (Wilhite, M., & Banset, L.,1999)

Co-Curricular Assessment

“There must be an assessment of quality and value — in terms of student learning — in every program and activity. [We must] challenge the structures and language of learning — to move beyond ideas of separate learning inside and outside the classroom.” (Keeling, 2006, p. 12)

Co-Curricular Assessment is assuming a major role as we move deeper into comprehensive assessment of student learning.

Co-Curricular Includes

•Advising

•Career Services

•Learning Support Services

•Honors Program

•Writing Center

•Library

•Information Technology

•Student Health Services

•Wellness Center

•Student Activities

•Student Organizations

•Leadership Development

•Greek Life

•Service Learning

•Student Rights/Responsibilities

•Housing & Learning Communities

•Dining

Activity1. Who is responsible for assessment at your

institution?

2. If you have committees, is there a separate co-

curricular committee?

3. Is there any participation by co-curricular units in

campus-level assessment activities?

4. Are at least some co-curricular units collaborating

with one another on assessment activities? If so,

which units are working together?

5. Is there collaboration on assessment between co-

curricular and curricular groups? If so, give an

example.

Ongoing BridgesFirst we had to create a bridge between the

co-curricular units

Established Co-Curricular Assessment

Committee http://assessment.siu.edu/assessment/CoCAC.html

Chair serves on Campus Wide

Assessment Committee

Reports to CWAC on activities of the

CoCAC and vice versa

Co Curricular Assessment Committee Charge

Reviews and evaluates the division or unit results, reports, and plans; and provides feedback to the assessment coordinators and directors to enhance their programs and, where applicable, ensure they are fulfilling accreditation/certification requirements;

Submits all approved Assessment Plans and annual Assessment Reports, with the Team Review Rubric, to the Office of Assessment and Program Review; it also reports a summary to the College-Wide Assessment Teams and the Campus-Wide Assessment Committee;

Works with the College-Wide Assessment Teams to ensure that co-curricular activities are incorporated into curricular learning, as appropriate;

Works with the Office of Assessment and Program Review and Center for Teaching Excellence to coordinate training for staff, directors, and other appropriate groups.

http://assessment.siu.edu/assessment/CoCAC.html

Co-Curricular Assessment Activities

Wrote assessment plans (SLO’s) and reports.

Shared our assessment activities and results.

Discussed CAS Self-Assessment Guides: http://www.cas.edu/standards

Investigated how to integrate our data contained in separate systems (Banner, Org Sync, Qualtrics…).

Discussed swiping ID’s at co-curricular services and events, feeding the data into Banner, and having Institutional Research run a report each spring.

Co-Curricular Assessment

Future ActivitiesWe plan to…

Reduce survey burden on students by

posting a question each week on the

single sign-on screen from a pool compiled

by all of the co-curricular services.

Students will learn about our services

while associating them with academics.

We will get feedback to improve our

services.

Students will take fewer surveys.

Sample Survey Questions -Advising

Academic advisors help and support students achieve specific outcomes throughout their educational journey. On average, how often do you meet with an academic advisor?

A. More than once per semester

B. Once per semester

C. Once per academic year

D. Less than once per academic year

E. I have never met with an advisor

What is the best way to figure out if you are on track to graduate in a timely manner?

A. Review the major requirements in the current SIU undergraduate catalog

B. Obtain a copy of your major curricular guide online

C. Consult your academic advisor

D. Meet with a faculty/instructor in your program of study

E. Ask your friends

Sample Survey Questions -Advising

For what reasons do you typically meet with an academic advisor? (You may select three answers)

A. Plan my schedule for the following semester

B. Discuss my progress toward graduation

C. Review requirements for my current major

D. Discuss requirements for a new major

E. Discuss personal issues affecting my academic progress

F. Discuss my career goals/plans for after graduating from my current academic program

G. Discuss academic success strategies (e.g., test taking, time management, test anxiety)

H. Discuss academic policies and deadlines

I. Discuss curricular and co-curricular offerings at SIU

What is your preferred method to schedule an advising appointment?

A. Call the college advising office

B. Go in person to college advising office

C. Email my advisor to schedule an appointment

D. On-line scheduling system (if available)

E. I do not know how to schedule an advising appointment

Sample Survey Questions -Library

Help is available from librarians a number of ways. Which would you be likely to use? Choose all that apply.

A. Email

B. Chat/IM

C. Text message

D. Phone

E. In-person at the Information Desk

F. By appointment with a librarian

The Library offers 14 group study rooms which can be reserved online for two or four hours at a time. How often do you use the rooms?

A. I didn't know about the rooms.

B. I do not need the rooms.

C. Once a semester.

D. Once a month.

E. Once a week.

F. Every day.

Sample Survey Questions -Library

How frequently will you use the Library's 24/5 study area and computer lab after midnight?

A. Not at all

B. Once a semester

C. Only during finals

D. Once a week

E. Several days a week

F. Every day

What would you do if you wanted to study in the Library and needed a computer?

A. Check out one of our laptops from the Circulation Desk

B. Borrow connectors from the Circulation Desk to use media tables to project from smaller devices

C. Use a media table

D. Use one of the computers found throughout the building

E. Any of the above (because they're all true!)

Ongoing BridgesWe are working to bridge the gap between

the academic and the co-curricular

The Campus-Wide Assessment and Co-

Curricular Assessment Committees

coordinated our First Annual

Assessment Day Conference on

October 2, 2014.

We had panels, presentations, and poster

sessions on both academic and co-

curricular assessment.

Ongoing Bridges We launched a Community of

Professional Practice during the fall

2014 semester consisting of faculty and

staff (we hope to add graduate and

undergraduate students) interested in

assessment at all levels (i.e., course level,

co-curricular, program level, etc.)

Monthly sessions, readings, postings, blog,

D2L site, etc.

At the end of the day, assessment

is all about… Developing consensus around collective

expectations about student learning both in

and outside the classroom.

Gathering evidence in order to understand

student learning.

Using this evidence to support

improvements that will contribute to

improvements in student learning.

Thank you!

Questions?

Contact InformationAnne Cooper Moore, DeanLibrary AffairsSouthern Illinois University Carbondaleanne.moore@siu.edu618-453-2074

Jim Allen, Associate Provost for Academic Programs

Acting Director of University Assessment

HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer

Professor of History / Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

jsallen@siu.edu

618-453-7653

Sharon Walters, Assistant DirectorAssessment and Program ReviewSouthern Illinois University Carbondalesharon@siu.edu618-453-5669